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Unfortunately...
... there probably aren't any agencies in the U.S. with openings for singles in 2003, as a result of the 8% quota on singles dossiers imposed by China.
It is not clear what China will do for 2004, so you might want to wait and see if there is any relaxation of the quota, although most agencies already have waiting lists into next year and beyond, under the assumption that there will still be strict limits on the number of singles accepted. You could also try to get onto the waiting list for an agency now, so that you will be better positioned when new quotas are announced.
Do remember that, with China, all of the agencies go through exactly the same process and time frame. No agency gets referrals faster than any other.
If you are willing to accept a significantly older child or a child with moderate special needs, you may be able to work through an agency's waiting child program, which bypasses the quotas. Basically, selected agencies have been given lists of children who are likely to have difficulties finding families. If you are willing to consider a particular child, and if the agency considers you suitable, your dossier will be submitted to the CCAA, which must make the actual referral.
If you feel that you do not want to wait for China, about the only good option for singles wanting Asian babies at present is Kazakhstan. Kazakhstan is a country that is between Russia and China. The available children include Caucasians of Russian descent, Asians of Chinese descent, and biracial Caucasian/Asian children.
With Kazakhstan, there is usually a shorter wait for Asian children than for Caucasian children. There are more boys than girls available, although you can certainly adopt a girl. Many parents feel that the care given to the children in the "baby houses" is good. The biggest drawback to adopting from Kazakhstan is the long stay in-country that is required. You can wind up being there for a month or more.
At this time, both Cambodia and Vietnam are closed. They used to be great options for singles. Some people believe that Vietnam will open by the end of the year, but nothing is certain yet. If it opens, singles are likely to be able to adopt. There will be new policies and procedures, and it's a little too soon to speculate about how stable the process will be. Some agencies are already taking applications for Vietnam, and you may want to talk with them, although you should consider seriously whether you want to commit money to an agency before you know details about how the program will work.
I hope this is helpful.
Sharon
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